DNA Genealogy Sources

DNA and Genealogy is a topic that many are gaining an interest in. I am learning right along side my readers. If you discover a great book or internet site please share this information with me. I recently attended a seminar and Genealogy & DNA was one of our topics. Here is a portion of what I learned.

DNA is basically a long molecule that contains coded instructions for the cells. Everything the cells do is coded somehow in DNA – which cells should grow and when, which cells should die and when, which cells should make hair and what color it should be. Our DNA is inherited from our parents. We resemble our parents simply because our bodies were formed using DNA to guide the process – the DNA we inherited from them.

We may resemble our parents, but we are never exactly like them. This is because each child gets only some of the DNA each parent carries. About half our DNA comes from our mother, and half comes from our father. Which pieces we get is basically random, and each child gets a different subset of the parents’ DNA. Thus, siblings may have the same parents, but they usually do not have exactly the same DNA (except for identical twins). (University of Michigan: DNA Sequencing Core)

A great internet site I recommend to gain a better understanding is The Genetic Genealogist. The Genetic Genealogist examines the intersection of traditional genealogical techniques and modern genetic research. The blog also explores the latest news and developments in the related field of personal genomics. Genetic genealogy is another tool for the genealogist’s toolbox. It is the use of genetics to study genealogy, the relationship between individuals. There are at least four types of genealogical DNA testing, including Y-chromosome, X-chromosome, mtDNA, and autosomal DNA test.

Here are some other internet sites that can help you understand more about DNA and how it can possibly help you in your family research.

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